By My Own Strength

The Lord . . . will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him—for he is proud and arrogant. He boasts, “By my own powerful arm I have done this. With my own shrewd wisdom I planned it.”

Isaiah 10:12-13

QUICK, WRITE DOWN THE top five accomplishments of your life. Now, how many of those did you accomplish totally on your own, without the help of a coach, teacher, parent, or pastor? Whose shoulders have you stood upon that you might see farther into the distance of your life? Who propped up the ladder against the wall that you’ve been climbing? What teams have you been on that have accomplished more than the sum of their members?

Pride starts in the heart, but it doesn’t stop there. It works its way into our bodies and affects the way we carry ourselves and relate to others. It changes our countenances and then begins to affect our speech. Nowhere is this more evident than in how many times we use the singular pronoun I each day. A self-centered, prideful attitude wreaks havoc in our relationships. It also sets us up for a big fall.

Wall Street likes to salute the “self-made man,” but truthfully, no such man exists. No matter how great your accomplishments or education, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Life is meant to be Christ-centered, not you-centered. After all, who created you and gave you air to breathe and food to eat? Who gifted you and equipped you for life? Who took your sins upon Himself at the cross? A fresh vision of Jesus today will cure your I disease and set you free to love others.

BOTTOM LINE

Ask a friend to be a spiritual optometrist for you and point out any I disease you have in your life.

Moment of Strength: James 4:6-10